fools, idiots and bigots - Updated (Summer Riots 2001)

Member Name: samantha

Product:	Summer Riots 2001
Date:	07/08/01 (62 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: none

Disadvantages: many

I grew up in a white area, went to a senior school were there can't have been more than 5 people there who were not white.

My junior school consisted of one non white person and she was my best friend. I still miss her, she moved away when I was 10.

I felt lucky that she was my friend. She was Sri Lankan, although to the best of my memory was born in England. Her dad was a doctor, her mum a very good cook (I can vouch for that)- we watched Hailys comet through her telescope, spied on the neighbours had hours of fun with Star Wars toys..

And I can honestly say that it never occurred to me until a few years ago that she was in any way different to me. I never looked at her and saw someone darker than me, I saw my best friend.

Why are children not like this anymore? I have no words to describe the confusion that I feel when I hear/see racism. People are people (as Depeche Mode once said). All my friends of the same age (25) have no concept of racism, were flabbergasted by the riots, hurt and confused that people could behave like this. Yet the generation beneath us 13/14/15 year olds seem to have developed views of the 'older generation, the generation we have always excused (grandmas and Grandfathers) as knowing no better.

Personally I can only say that these problems seem to be incited by the right wing groups and reacted to be people who don't seem to know why they are rioting in the first place. I don't want to think these people actually believe in the bizarre cause's of the NF or the BNP but are dissatisfied with their life and looking for a target, any target.

Sitting these people down and explaining that the colour of someone’s skin is not a reason for attacking them never works. Generally they’re too thick to take it in.

I think the whole ridiculous and irrational thought process can be summed up by a conversation my friend had with her younger brother. He brought
home a card from the NF or similar 'organisation' and she pointed out one of his best friends was black. He said ' but that’s different innit'

See - stupid


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All this got me thinking - and although I had searched for my friend from school a few years ago and found nothing yesterday I found her sister, emailed her and she passed the email on. This morning I got an email from her! I'm so thrilled. She's a doctor (I'm proud and telling everyone).

Summary: